Proverbs 25:19

19 A bad tooth and a lame foot [is] the trust of a faithless person {in a time} of trouble.

Proverbs 25:19 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 25:19

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
It is not good to put confidence in any man, not in princes, nor in the best of men; much less in an unfaithful, prevaricating, and treacherous man; and especially in a time of distress and trouble, depending on his help and assistance, which is leaning on a broken reed, and trusting to a broken staff. Or, "the confidence of an unfaithful man in time of trouble" ^F15; that which he puts confidence in; who trusts in his riches, or in his righteousness, or in his own heart, all which are vain and deceitful: [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint;
which are so far from being of any use, the one in eating food, and the other in walking, that they are both an hindrance to those actions, and cause pain and uneasiness: or, "a bad tooth", so the Targum and Syriac version; a rotten one.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (dgwb xjbm) "fiducia praevaricatoris", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus; "fiducia perfidi", Cocceius, Michaelis.

Proverbs 25:19 In-Context

17 Make your foot scarce in the house of your neighbor, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

18 [Like] a club and sword and a sharp arrow [is] a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

19 A bad tooth and a lame foot [is] the trust of a faithless person {in a time} of trouble.

20 [Like] one who removes a garment on a cold day, [or like] vinegar on natron, [is] he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy [is] hungry, feed him bread, and if thirsty, let him drink water.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "on a day"